Ballistic tire-deflation device for security vehicles

ABSTRACT

A ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus includes an optical module adapted to provide visual feedback to a user to aim at an object. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus further includes a firing mechanism adapted to fire a projectile towards the object and a housing containing the firing mechanism. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is adapted to be mounted to a vehicle.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority from, and incorporates byreference the entire disclosure of U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 60/953,723 (Docket No. 47565-P002V1), filed on Aug. 3, 2007.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This patent application relates generally to security vehicles and, inparticular, to immobilizing a vehicle fleeing a law-enforcement vehicle.

BACKGROUND

From time-to-time, it becomes necessary for law-enforcement officers tostop a vehicle for the purpose of inspecting the vehicle and/orinvestigating a vehicle operator. Once the investigation has beencompleted without incident, the vehicle and its operator are allowed todrive away from the scene of the stop. However, on certain occasions, asuspect wishing to avoid capture or the inspection of his vehicle mayflee the scene of the stop prior to completion of the investigation. Insuch cases, the fleeing vehicle is pursued, typically at high speeds, byone or more law enforcement vehicles until the suspect is caught. As aconsequence of the high-speed chase, often covering long distances, thelaw enforcement officers, innocent motorists traveling on roadways, andeven the suspect are susceptible to a risk of injury to themselves andtheir property.

To prevent a fleeing suspect and his vehicle from escaping, vehicleimmobilizers are often utilized. Such vehicle immobilizers are typicallyspike strips which include a set of spikes to be placed across a roadwayand aimed at and adapted to puncture a tire of an oncoming vehicle. Atypical vehicle immobilizer includes a set of spikes positioned toengage one or more tires of the vehicle. There is nothing to prevent thevehicle from fleeing in an opposite direction in an effort to completelyavoid driving over the spikes and damaging the tires. Moreover, thevehicle immobilizer as described above is fairly large and bulky so asto be inconvenient to transport and difficult to store in a small space,such as in a trunk of the law enforcement vehicle prior to deployment.In this same regard, when not in use, the sharp spikes associated withthe vehicle immobilizer may accidentally damage government property orinjure individuals in charge of handling the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus includes an optical moduleadapted to provide visual feedback to a user to aim at an object. Theballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus includes a firing mechanismadapted to fire a projectile towards the object. The ballisticvehicle-immobilization apparatus further includes a housing containingthe firing mechanism. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus isadapted to be mounted to a vehicle.

A ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus includes a range-detectormodule adapted to project laser light towards an object. The ballisticvehicle-immobilization apparatus further includes a firing mechanismadapted to fire a projectile towards the object. The ballisticvehicle-immobilization apparatus is mounted to a front portion of avehicle and is operable to activate the firing mechanism responsive tothe laser light being located on the object.

A ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus includes a firing mechanismadapted to fire a projectile towards an object. The ballisticvehicle-immobilization apparatus further includes a housing containingthe firing mechanism and is adapted to be mounted to a vehicle. Theballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus further includes a sightingmechanism including a mechanical sight, an optical sight, and a tracerbullet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of various embodiments of the presentinvention may be obtained by reference to the following DetailedDescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawingswherein:

FIG. 1A illustrates a ballistic vehicle-immobilization system;

FIG. 1B illustrates a ballistic vehicle-immobilization system;

FIG. 1C illustrates a ballistic vehicle-immobilization system;

FIG. 1D illustrates a ballistic vehicle-immobilization system positionedon a vehicle;

FIG. 2A illustrates a ballistic vehicle-immobilization system covered bya cover;

FIG. 2B illustrates a ballistic vehicle-immobilization system covered bya cover; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a system diagram for implementing a ballisticvehicle-immobilization system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described morefully with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention may,however, be embodied in many different forms and should not beconstructed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, theembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough andcomplete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to thoseskilled in the art. The above summary of the invention is not intendedto represent each embodiment or every aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 1A illustrates a ballistic vehicle-immobilization system 100. Theballistic vehicle-immobilization system 100 includes a housing 102having a front surface 120. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization system100 includes a plurality of radiation modules 104 a and 104 b. In atypical embodiment, the plurality of radiation modules 104 a-104 b maybe, for example, infrared (IR) illuminators. The radiation modules 104a-104 b are adapted, for example, to project infrared (IR) radiationtowards an object. In a typical embodiment, the object may be, forexample, a tire of a vehicle to be immobilized. The ballisticvehicle-immobilization system 100 further includes an optical module106. In a typical embodiment, the optical module 106 may be, forexample, an infrared camera.

The ballistic vehicle-immobilization system 100 further includes arange-detector module 108. In a typical embodiment, the range-detectormodule 108 may include, for example, a laser symbol projector. A typicalembodiment of the range-detector module 108 is adapted, for example, toproject laser light in different shapes such as, for example, dots,lines, cross-lines, and the like. In addition, in some embodiments, therange-detector module 108 may be used alone or in conjunction with theoptical module 106 to determine a range to the object.

The ballistic vehicle-immobilization system 100 further includes afiring mechanism 110. In a typical embodiment, the firing mechanism 110also includes, for example, a plurality of projectile barrels 110 a-110f. The firing mechanism 110 further includes components (not explicitlyshown) which operate together in order to discharge at least one of theplurality of projectile barrels 110 a-110 f. In a typical embodiment,the components of the firing mechanism may include, for example, atrigger, a firing pin, or the like. The ballistic vehicle-immobilizationsystem 100 also includes a cover 112 adapted to protect againstinadvertent firing of a projectile. In a typical embodiment, theplurality of radiation modules 104 a-104 b, the optical module 106, therange-detector module 108, and the firing mechanism 110 are housedwithin the housing 102 as shown in FIG. 1A; however, in otherembodiments, the plurality of radiation modules 104 a-104 b, the opticalmodule 106, and the range-detector module 108 may be housed separatefrom the firing mechanism 110 housed within the housing 102.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A, the plurality of projectilebarrels 110 a-110 f are 12-gauge shotgun-shell barrels. In otherembodiments, any other number of projectile barrels or other gauges maybe utilized as needed. The arrangement of the plurality of radiationmodules 104 a-104 b, the optical module 106, the range-detector module108, and the plurality of projectile barrels 110 a-110 f as illustratedin FIG. 1A is shown for illustrative purposes. In other embodiments, theplurality of radiation modules 104 a-104 b, the optical module 106, therange-detector module 108, and the plurality of projectile barrels 110a-110 f may be utilized in a different arrangement from the oneillustrated in FIG. 1A.

The ballistic vehicle-immobilization system 100 may be used to fire, forexample, shotgun blasts, solid darts, hollow darts, multi-pelletammunition, reloadable ammunition cartridges, handguns, repeating firingmechanism such as, for example, automatic or semi-automatic handguns orother firearms to fire the projectiles from the plurality of projectilebarrels 110 a-110 f of the firing mechanism 110. The projectiles firedfrom the plurality of projectile barrels 110 a-110 f may thus be used,for example, to immobilize a vehicle fleeing a law-enforcement vehicle.In a typical embodiment, the radiation modules 104 a-104 b may beemployed to project infrared radiation sufficient to permit the opticalmodule 106 to distinguish a tire or other object to be fired upon by theballistic vehicle-immobilization system 100.

In various embodiments, the ballistic vehicle-immobilization system 100may be used for targeting. The range-detector module 108 may be adaptedto project light in different shapes such as, for example, dots, lines,cross-lines or other images used for range-finding by or aiming of theballistic vehicle-immobilization system 100 prior to firing ofprojectiles from the plurality of projectile barrels 110 a-110 f. In atypical embodiment, the range-detector module 108 may be operated in oneor more of three modes of operation. In a first mode of operation, therange-detector module 108 operates as a range finder. In the first modeof operation, the range-detector module 108 ensures that the ballisticvehicle-immobilization system 100 is within an appropriate range to theobject to be fired upon. In a second mode of operation, therange-detector module 108 operates as an aiming mechanism. In the secondmode of operation, the range-detector module 108 is be adapted toproject light in different shapes such as, for example, dots, lines,cross-lines or other images towards the object for aiming of theballistic vehicle-immobilization system 100 prior to firing ofprojectiles from the plurality of projectile barrels 110 a-110 f. In athird mode of operation, the range-detector module 108 operates as botha range finder and an aiming mechanism. In a typical embodiment, therange-detector module 108 includes, for example, a laser device such as,for example, the laser symbol projector; however, those having skill inthe art will appreciate that other types of devices may be used forpurposes of range-finding by or aiming of the ballisticvehicle-immobilization system 100, such as, for example, ultrasonicdevices or radar.

FIG. 1B illustrates another embodiment of a ballisticvehicle-immobilization system. The ballistic vehicle-immobilizationsystem 700 illustrated in FIG. 1B is similar to the system 100 of FIG.1A; however, the system 700 of FIG. 1B includes five 12-gaugeshotgun-shell barrels (i.e., the projectile barrels 110 a-110 e). In atypical embodiment, the plurality of projectile barrels 110 a-110 e ofthe firing mechanism 110 may be mounted behind a sacrificial weathershield 114. The sacrificial weather shield 114 typically includes awater-proof membrane adapted to prevent the plurality of projectilebarrels 110 a-110 f from water, dust and other debris. The sacrificialweather shield 114 may be made for example of, rubber or canvas and maybe destroyed when the projectiles are fired from one or more of theplurality of projectile barrels 110 a-110 f.

FIG. 1C illustrates another embodiment of a ballisticvehicle-immobilization system. The ballistic vehicle-immobilizationsystem 800 shown in FIG. 1C is similar to the system 100 of FIG. 1A;however, the system 800 of FIG. 1C includes the plurality of radiationmodules 104 a-104 b, the optical module 106, the range-detector module108, and the plurality of projectile barrels 110 a-110 f of the firingmechanism 110 housed within the housing 102 in a different arrangementfrom the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1D illustrates the ballistic vehicle-immobilization system 100positioned at various locations on a law-enforcement vehicle 600. Theballistic vehicle-immobilization system 100 may be, in a typicalembodiment, mounted to a front portion of the law-enforcement vehicle600 such as, for example, a front bumper adjacent a license plate of thelaw-enforcement vehicle 600 towards the driver's side. In a typicalembodiment, the ballistic vehicle-immobilization system 100 may bemounted at a height such that the plurality of projectile barrels 110a-110 f level with at least one tire of a vehicle to be immobilized andis positioned directly straight ahead of the vehicle to be immobilized.Although, in a typical embodiment, the ballistic vehicle-immobilizationsystem 100 may be mounted to the front portion of the law enforcementpatrol car 600, the ballistic vehicle-immobilization system 100 need notnecessarily be thusly mounted. Rather, the ballisticvehicle-immobilization system 100 may be mounted to one or more of aside, rear, or any other portion of the law-enforcement vehicle 600. Theballistic vehicle-immobilization system 100 as illustrated in FIG. 1D isshown for illustrative purposes. In other embodiments, the ballisticvehicle-immobilization systems 600, 700 may also be positioned atvarious locations on the law-enforcement vehicle 600.

FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate the ballistic vehicle-immobilization system 100covered by the cover 112. In a typical embodiment, the cover 112 isadapted to be rotated and positioned to protect against inadvertentfiring of the plurality of projectile barrels 110 a-110 f and to protectthe infrared illuminators 104 a and 104 b, the optical module 106, therange-detector module 108, and the plurality of projectile barrels 110a-110 f of the firing mechanism 110 from weather or road debris. Inother embodiments, the cover 112 is adapted to be slid into andpositioned to protect against inadvertent firing of the plurality ofprojectile barrels 110 a-110 f and to protect the infrared illuminators104 a and 104 b, the optical module 106, the range-detector module 108,and the plurality of projectile barrels 110 a-110 f of the firingmechanism 110 from weather or road debris. In other embodiments, thecover 112 comprises a hinge adapted to position the cover 112 to protectagainst inadvertent firing of the plurality of projectile barrels 110a-110 f and to protect the infrared illuminators 104 a and 104 b, theoptical module 106, the range-detector module 108, and the plurality ofprojectile barrels 110 a-110 f of the firing mechanism 110 from weatheror road debris. Although the cover 112 as illustrated in FIG. 2A coverssubstantially the entire front surface 120 of the ballisticvehicle-immobilization system 100, those having skill in the art willappreciate that the cover 112 may be dimensioned differently to cover,for example, only the plurality of projectile barrels 110 a-110 f asshown in FIG. 2B. In a typical embodiment, the cover 112 may be, forexample, a unitary cover that may be weather-proof, wind-proof and maybe made of, for example, plastic, metal, or any other relatively hardresilient material. In other embodiments, the cover 112 may besacrificial and made for example of, rubber or canvas and may bedestroyed when the projectiles are fired from one or more of theplurality of projectile barrels 110 a-110 f.

In a typical embodiment, one or more of three ballisticvehicle-immobilization system modes of operation may be used: (1) amanual mode; (2) an assisted mode; and (3) an automatic mode. In themanual mode of operation, the laser light output from the range-detectormodule 108 indicates where the ballistic vehicle-immobilization systemis aimed. In the manual mode, it is up to the user to line up his or hervehicle until, for example, a red line or dot is located on a tire orother object to be fired upon and to then manually fire the ballisticvehicle-immobilization system. In the manual mode, the optical module106 may be used to provide visual feedback to the user; however, use ofthe optical module 106 is optional if the user can see the laser outputwithout assistance from the optical module 106. In a typical embodiment,the optical module 106 is an infrared camera, it will be apparent tothose having skill in the art that a visible-spectrum camera may be usedinstead of or in addition to the infrared camera 106. Those having skillin the art will also appreciate that the manual mode of operation is notnecessarily dependent upon use of the range-detector module 108 and thatother sighting or range-finding systems may be utilized such as, forexample, mechanical or optical sights, tracer bullets, and the like.Further to the above, those having skill in the art will appreciatethat, in bright sunlight, it might be difficult to see a dot, line, orother image produced by the range-detector module 108 with the nakedeye. In such cases, the user may use an image from the optical module106 to assist in aiming the ballistic vehicle-immobilization system.

In the assisted mode, the ballistic vehicle-immobilization systememploys automatic target detection and tracking (“ATDT”) algorithms tolocate a tire or other object to be fired upon and, in a typicalembodiment, provides, for example, auditory feedback to the user, forexample, in the form of tones, beeps, or a synthetic voice. In theassisted mode, when the ballistic vehicle-immobilization system isproperly aimed at a tire or other object to be fired upon, a distinctivetone, voice, or other notification may be used to alert the user thatproper aiming has been achieved. In response, the user may then give acommand to the ballistic vehicle-immobilization system to fire on theobject. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization system then automaticallyfires on the object.

In the automatic mode, the ballistic vehicle-immobilization systememploys ATDT to locate a tire or other object to be fired upon. Once theobject to be fired upon has been located by the ballisticvehicle-immobilization system, the ballistic vehicle-immobilizationsystem prompts the user for permission to fire. Once permission has beengranted by the user, the ballistic vehicle-immobilization system guidesthe user to the target using, for example, auditory or other feedback asused in the assisted mode described above. When the object to be firedupon is in range and has been properly targeted at by the ballisticvehicle-immobilization system (e.g., is in the so-called kill zone), theballistic vehicle-immobilization system automatically fires upon theobject.

FIG. 3 illustrates a system 300 on which various embodiments of theballistic vehicle-immobilization system may be implemented. The system300 includes a control computer 301. The control computer 301 includes abus 302 or other communication mechanism for communicating information.The system 300 further includes a processor 304 coupled to the bus 302for processing information. The control computer 301 further includes amain memory 306 such as, for example, a random access memory (RAM) orother dynamic storage device, coupled to the bus 302.

The control computer 301 further includes a read only memory (ROM) orother storage device connected to the bus 302 for storing staticinformation and instructions from the processor 302. The controlcomputer 301 may be coupled via the bus 302 to at least one radiationmodule 310 a, 310 b and an optical module 312. In a typical embodiment,the at least one radiation module 310 a, 310 may be, for example, aninfrared (IR) illuminator while the optical module 312 may be, forexample, an infrared camera. The control computer 301 may further becoupled to a range-detector module 314, a firing mechanism 316 includinga plurality of projectile barrels 316 a-316 f, a cover 318, and adisplay 320. In a typical embodiment, the display 320 may be, forexample, a liquid crystal display (LCD) adapted to provide visualfeedback to a user. The display 320 may further be adapted to visuallyconfigure the ATDT algorithm.

In a typical embodiment, the bus 302 is adapted to communicateinformation between the control computer 301 and one or more componentsof the ballistic vehicle-immobilization system such as, for example, theat least one radiation module 310 a-310 b, the optical module 312, therange-detector module 314, the plurality of projectile barrels 316 a-316f, the cover 318, and the display 320.

Those having skill in the art will appreciate that various embodimentsof the ballistic vehicle-immobilization system may be designed to fireall, one, or more than one but fewer than all of the projectiles of theplurality of projectile barrels 110 a-110 f in response to predeterminedconditions having been met. For example, the ballisticvehicle-immobilization system may select a single best projectile of theplurality of projectile barrels 110 a-110 f to fire in order to increasethe likelihood of a direct strike on a tire or other object to be firedupon. In other embodiments, more than one projectile may be firedsimultaneously or in some predetermined sequence.

In various embodiments, safety features are implemented in the ballisticvehicle-immobilization system to decrease the risk of inadvertent firingor damage to objects other than those intended to be fired upon usingthe ballistic vehicle-immobilization system. For example, the ballisticvehicle-immobilization system may be designed to automatically disarmitself if any of the following events were to occur: (1) the ATDTalgorithms lose track of the targeted object; (2) the law-enforcementvehicle slows down to less than a minimum speed threshold such as, forexample 10 miles per hour or the law-enforcement vehicle exceeds amaximum speed threshold such as, for example 80 miles per hour; (3) atimeout elapses such as, for example, 10-20 seconds; (4) other vehiclesare detected in or nearby the kill zone; (5) the user disarms theballistic vehicle-immobilization system; or (6) a projectile has beenfired within a predetermined time period such as, for example, oneminute.

Another safety feature in various embodiments of the ballisticvehicle-immobilization system includes a continuous tone that notifiesthe user of the targeting status of the ballistic vehicle-immobilizationsystem. In these embodiments, the tone may be changed in pitch as theballistic vehicle-immobilization system readies to fire.

In a typical embodiment, frangible ammunition may be used to preventricochet or ammunition penetration into unwanted areas. Frangibleammunition is designed so that, when the ammunition hits a firstsurface, the ammunition delivers all the energy to that surface, butthen breaks it into powder and does not ricochet. Frangible ammunitionis typically used for safety purposes. For example, if the frangibleammunition perforates a tire and then strikes the on which the tire ismounted, the frangible ammunition would not ricochet and strike anyother objects. In addition, in some embodiments, the ballisticprojectile barrels 110 a-110 f may be tilted slightly downward relativeto level so that frangible pellets from shotgun shells used in theballistic projectile barrels 110 a-110 f will strike the ground, forexample, no further than 25 feet in front of the patrol car. In someembodiments, different types of ammunition may be loaded in differentbarrels of the ballistic projectile barrels 110 a-110 f Ammunitionselection may be done, for example, in an automatic fashion based uponrange and tire size. Chosen ammunition can vary based upon caliber andnumber of pellets as well as single bullet (e.g., small arm frangible,etc.).

In other embodiments, a tubular dart for air deflation of a tire may beutilized rather than shotgun shells. In addition, the plurality ofprojectile barrels 110 a-110 f may all be pointed directly forward ormay be splayed in order to increase the potential lateral range of thesix ballistic projectile barrels 110 a-110 f.

Moreover, the cover 112 may be utilized to protect from inadvertentfirings of projectiles via the ballistic projectile barrels 110 a-110 f.In a typical embodiment, the cover 112 is made of steel or some otherhardened material and is rotated or slided away from the plurality ofprojectile barrels 110 a-110 f responsive to arming of the ballisticvehicle-immobilization system.

Although various embodiments of the method and system of the presentinvention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings anddescribed in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understoodthat the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but iscapable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutionswithout departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth herein.

1. A ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus comprising: an opticalmodule adapted to provide visual feedback to a user to aim at an object;a firing mechanism adapted to fire a projectile towards the object; ahousing containing the firing mechanism; a control computer comprising:a communication mechanism; a processor; and a memory; wherein thecommunication mechanism is operable to communicate information betweenthe control computer and the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus;wherein, responsive to the speed of a vehicle falling below apre-determined threshold speed, the control computer communicatesinformation to the firing mechanism that causes the ballisticvehicle-immobilization apparatus to disarm; and wherein the ballisticvehicle-immobilization apparatus is mounted to the vehicle.
 2. Theballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1, wherein thefiring mechanism comprises a plurality of projectile barrels.
 3. Theballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1, wherein theballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus further comprises: at leastone radiation module adapted to project infrared (IR) radiation towardsthe object; and a range-detector module adapted to project laser lighttowards the object.
 4. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus ofclaim 3, wherein the at least one radiation module comprises at leastone infrared illuminator.
 5. The ballistic vehicle-immobilizationapparatus of claim 3, wherein the range-detection module comprises alaser symbol projector.
 6. The ballistic vehicle-immobilizationapparatus of claim 3, wherein the range-detector module is operable as arange finder.
 7. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim3, wherein the range-detector module is operable as an aiming mechanism.8. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe optical module comprises an infrared camera.
 9. The ballisticvehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical moduleutilizes infrared radiation to illuminate the object.
 10. The ballisticvehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cover.11. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 10, whereinthe cover is adapted to protect against inadvertent firing of the firingmechanism.
 12. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim10, wherein the cover prevents foreign objects from entering the firingmechanism.
 13. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim10, wherein the cover is adapted to be rotated and positioned to coversubstantially an entire front surface of the ballisticvehicle-immobilization apparatus.
 14. The ballisticvehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 10, wherein the cover isadapted to be slid into to cover substantially an entire front surfaceof the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus.
 15. The ballisticvehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 10, wherein the cover isadapted to be rotated and positioned to cover the firing mechanism. 16.The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 10, wherein thecover comprises at least one of plastic and metal.
 17. The ballisticvehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 10, wherein the cover issacrificial.
 18. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim2, wherein at least one of the plurality of projectile barrels is firedsingularly.
 19. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim2, wherein the plurality of projectile barrels are fired simultaneously.20. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 3, whereinthe ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is manually aimed byaligning the vehicle so that the laser light is on the object.
 21. Theballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1, wherein theballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is operable in at least oneof a manual mode, an assisted mode, and an automatic mode.
 22. Theballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 3, wherein thecontrol computer is interoperably connected to at least one of theoptical module, the range-detector module, and the firing mechanism. 23.The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1, wherein theballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is mounted on a front portionof the vehicle.
 24. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus ismounted adjacent a license plate on the driver's side of the vehicle.25. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 2, whereinthe plurality of projectile barrels are mounted behind a sacrificialcover; and the sacrificial cover prevents foreign objects from enteringthe plurality of projectile barrels.
 26. The ballisticvehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 3, wherein the ballisticvehicle-immobilization apparatus is operable in an assisted mode. 27.The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 3, wherein theballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is operable in an automaticmode.
 28. (canceled)
 29. A vehicle-mounted ballisticvehicle-immobilization apparatus comprising: an optical module adaptedto provide visual feedback to a user to aim at an object; a firingmechanism adapted to fire a projectile towards the object; a housingcontaining the firing mechanism; a control computer comprising: acommunication mechanism; a processor; and a memory; wherein thecommunication mechanism is operable to communicate information betweenthe control computer and the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus;and wherein, responsive to the speed of a vehicle to which the ballisticvehicle-immobilization apparatus is mounted exceeding a pre-determinedthreshold speed, the control computer communicates information to thefiring mechanism that causes the ballistic vehicle-immobilizationapparatus to disarm.
 30. (canceled)
 31. (canceled)
 32. (canceled) 33.(canceled)
 34. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim1, wherein the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is adapted tofire frangible ammunition.
 35. (canceled)
 36. (canceled)
 37. (canceled)38. (canceled)
 39. A ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatuscomprising: a range-detector module adapted to project laser lighttowards an object; a firing mechanism adapted to fire a projectiletowards the object; wherein the ballistic vehicle-immobilizationapparatus is mounted to a front portion of a vehicle adjacent a licenseplate on a driver's side of the vehicle; and wherein the ballisticvehicle-immobilization apparatus is operable to activate the firingmechanism responsive to the laser light being located on the object. 40.The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 39, wherein thefiring mechanism comprises a plurality of projectile barrels.
 41. Theballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 39, wherein theballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus further comprises: at leastone radiation module adapted to project infrared (IR) radiation towardsthe object; and an optical module adapted to provide visual feedback toa user to aim at the object.
 42. (canceled)
 43. The ballisticvehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 39, wherein therange-detection module comprises a laser symbol projector.
 44. Theballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 39, wherein therange-detector module is operable as a range finder.
 45. The ballisticvehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 39, wherein the range-detectormodule is operable as an aiming mechanism.
 46. (canceled)